Coffee Pots & Sets - Royal Worcester

Learn about Worcester / Royal Worcester

Among the most popular of the English porcelain factories among collectors is Royal Worcester. The Worcester porcelain company was founded in 1751.

The First Period of Worcester (1751-76) is sometimes called the Dr. Wall period after John Wall, one of the founders and major shareholders. During this period, Worcester was using the formula for soft paste porcelain which was obtained when they took over Lund's Bristol Porcelain works in 1752.

Worcester also introduced the use of transfer printing on porcelain in 1757, which reduced the need for hand painting which was time consuming and expensive.

In 1783 Thomas Flight purchased the factory for his sons Joseph & John. This period led to a change in the porcelain paste used, achieving a much better, whiter body. The style of decoration during this period became much more neoclassical in style.

In 1793 Martin Barr became a partner in the firm. As the partnership changed so did the names, Barr, Flight, Barr (1807-13), Flight Barr, Barr (1813-40).

In 1840 Worcester amalgamated with the Chamberlains' factory, also located at Worcester, but still producing from both works. more...Worcester eventually moved its entire operations into the more up to date Chamberlain's factory in 1847, becoming known as Chamberlain's Worcester. In 1852 W.H. Kerr joined the firm, which was renamed Kerr & Binns.

In 1862, it was renamed the Royal Worcester Porcelain Company, and more everyday works were produced.

In 1976 the company merged with Spode and the company reduced its staff from 2003 to 2005, with the company going into administration in 2008 and then ceasing trading in 2009. The trading name and brands (including Spode), but not the factories in Stoke-on-Trent, were acquired by Portmeiron Pottery Group.

Learn about Coffee Pots

Before the invention of the dripolator, percolator and the expresso machine, the roasted and ground coffee beans were placed in a pot, and hot water was added, to infuse the water with the coffee. After the coffee had brewed it was ready for pouring, a similar process to that used to make tea now. It was not until the invention of the percolator in the late 19th century, that use of the coffee pot began to decline. From the early 18th century to the end of the 19th century, coffee pots were produced in silver, silver plate and by most of the major ceramics producers who produced dinnerware, including Wedgwood, Royal Worcester and Belleek.

A Royal Worcester boxed 'Fruit' painted coffee set, signed Austin, Price, Harper and Flextman, each cup with gilded exterior and fruit painted well, the saucers with concentric gilding and painting, various artists' signatures, puce mark, six in the set an

A Royal Worcester boxed 'Fruit' painted coffee set, signed W.bee, circa 1949, each embellished with blue ground band with gilded trellis design and fruit painted rim, signed W.bee, puce mark, six in the set

A Royal Worcester porcelain coffee set, circa 1864, comprising a lobed rectangular tray, a coffee pot, a lidded sugar bowl with cover, a milk jug and two cups with saucers, each individually painted with birds and floral sprays edged with turquoise and gil

A Royal Worcester cased coffee service in pheasant pattern, circa 1902, comprising six demi-tasses and saucers painted with pheasants and acorns, by A.Shuck, together with silver mocca spoons in the original fitted satin lined case with printed distributor

A Royal Worcester, boxed demitasse coffee service consisting of: 6 cups and saucers and 6 sterling silver coffee spoons, the porcelain in royal blue with floral and gilt friezes and gilt cup interiors dated as 1927

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